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How To List Accomplishments For Resumes: Best Practices For Success

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Have you ever been frustrated with the difficulty of listing accomplishments on your resume?  If so, you’re not alone.

The accomplishments section should showcase how you have added value to your previous employers and demonstrate your ability to achieve results. However, it’s difficult to quantify what you’ve done in a neatly organized and concise way

Following best practices for listing accomplishments on your resume can effectively showcase your value and make your resume stand out. Let’s look at some strategies to help you record the best achievements for your resume.

What Are Accomplishments for a Resume?

Accomplishments are a way to showcase your achievements and successes in your past work experiences, especially for a 2-page resume. They are specific and measurable actions that demonstrate the value you have added to your previous employers.

Why Mention Accomplishments on a Resume?

Mentioning accomplishments on a resume helps to demonstrate to potential employers how you have added value to previous positions. Achievements provide concrete examples of the skills and experience you bring to the table and help set you apart from other candidates.

Additionally, highlighting accomplishments shows how you have grown and developed as a professional and demonstrates your ability to achieve results and positively impact the workplace culture.

Mentioning accomplishments on a resume will impress hiring managers because it shows them that you have a track record of achieving specific, measurable results in your past positions. It demonstrates that you have the skills, experience, and drive to succeed in the role they are hiring.

What Accomplishments Should You Put On Your Resume?

When creating a resume, include accomplishments demonstrating your skills and qualifications for your desired job. You should also include volunteer experience. Here are the achievements to include in your resume.

How You Boosted Revenue for a Company

Boosted revenue for a company is an accomplishment that can be a valuable addition to your resume. This accomplishment showcases your ability to positively impact a company’s financial health and is a skill many employers desire.

To effectively communicate this accomplishment on your resume, provide specific details about the revenue increase and your role in achieving it. For example, list the percentage increase and the time frame for the boosted revenue achievement.

Additionally, you could describe the strategies and tactics you used to drive the rise, such as implementing new sales techniques, expanding into new markets, or launching new products or services.

Money You Saved at a Company

Saving money for a company is a significant accomplishment you should put on your resume. Not only does it demonstrate your ability to think strategically and make sound financial decisions, but it also shows that you are committed to the success and growth of the company.

One way to highlight money saved on a resume is to include specific examples of implemented cost-saving measures. For instance, you may have negotiated better deals with suppliers, which saved funds. By providing concrete numbers and details, you demonstrate the tangible impact of your actions.

Problems You Discovered and Solved

Problems you have discovered and solved demonstrate your ability to identify and address issues professionally. It shows that you have the initiative and problem-solving skills needed to improve the performance and efficiency of an organization.

When listing this accomplishment on your resume, provide specific details about the problem you discovered and how you solved it. This step will help potential employers understand the scope of the issue and the impact of your solution. Additionally, mention any positive outcomes or results resulting from your solution, such as increased productivity or cost savings.

Innovations You Came up With

Innovations demonstrate your ability to think creatively and develop new solutions to problems. Additionally, they show that you can take the initiative and drive projects forward. When listing innovations on your resume, include data demonstrating the invention’s success, such as an increase in revenue.

Additionally, highlight any leadership roles you played in the innovation process. It could include leading a team of developers or collaborating with other departments to bring the project to fruition. Adding leadership roles helps demonstrate your ability to work effectively in a group and to lead others.

Relevant Awards You Won

Relevant awards demonstrate to potential employers that you have excelled in your field and have received recognition for your achievements. They can also provide concrete evidence of your skills and abilities, helping to set you apart from other candidates.

When listing awards on your resume, be specific about the prize, the organization that presented it, and the year you received the award. You can also include a brief description of the award and the criteria for winning it, which gives the reader a better understanding of the award’s significance and why it is relevant to your qualifications.

Systems You Developed

Developing systems shows you have the technical knowledge and expertise necessary to design, build, and implement complex systems. It includes knowledge of programming languages, data structures, algorithms, and experience with specific technologies and platforms.

Developing systems shows you can plan a project from start to finish, coordinate the work of other team members, manage timelines and budgets, and ensure that the final product meets the needs of the users or clients.

Special Projects You Managed

Special projects you have managed are a significant accomplishment to include on your resume because they demonstrate your ability to lead and manage initiatives, often outside your regular job responsibilities.

These projects showcase your skills in project management, problem-solving, and leadership. Additionally, they highlight your ability to work with cross-functional teams, manage timelines and budgets, and deliver results.

What Accomplishments Should You Not Put on Your Resume?

You should not put irrelevant or insignificant accomplishments on your resume, as they will take up valuable space and may distract recruiters from more important information. Here are achievements not to include on your resume.

Old Accomplishments

Old accomplishments include achievements from experiences that you experienced a long time ago. Focus on highlighting your most recent and relevant accomplishments that showcase your skills and qualifications for the job.

Irrelevant Accomplishments

Irrelevant accomplishments do not directly relate to the job or industry for which you are applying. Add actions that demonstrate your qualifications and skills for the specific position you want.

Overly Personal Accomplishments

Including overly personal accomplishments is generally not appropriate on a resume. These accomplishments are not directly relevant to the job you are applying for and can distract the recruiter from more suitable qualifications. Instead, focus on professional achievements demonstrating your skills and experience in the prospective field.

Exaggerated or Inaccurate Accomplishments

Exaggerated or inaccurate accomplishments are dishonest and can lead to potential employers negatively judging you. Additionally, if an employer finds out that you have lied or exaggerated on your resume, it can lead to you losing the job opportunity. Being honest and accurate when listing accomplishments on a resume is advisable.

Where Do You Include Accomplishments for Resume?

The overview, abilities, professional experience, and dedicated accomplishments sections are the most frequent areas for you to highlight your achievements. Resume builders will help guide you on where to include accomplishments on your resume.

How Do You Write a Good Accomplishment Statement for a Resume?

Accomplishment statements strengthen your resume, but only when well written. Let’s look at strategies you should follow to write a remarkable accomplishment statement.

Use Strong Action Words

Strong action words help make your statement of accomplishment on a resume more impactful. These words describe specific actions that you took and the results you achieved. Some examples of strong action words include completed, improved, and increased.

When writing your accomplishment statements, try to use strong action words at the beginning of the sentence. It makes your accomplishments more specific and measurable and helps to show the value you bring to the company.

Include Them Throughout

Include accomplishment statements throughout your resume, as they help to demonstrate your value to potential employers and make your resume stand out. Use bullet points while formatting the accomplishment statements in your resume.

Quantify and Qualify Your Achievements

When writing accomplishment statements for a resume, include quantitative and qualitative information to provide a well-rounded picture of your achievements.

Quantitative information includes numbers and measurable data. Quantify your achievements using numbers and statistics to help the hiring manager understand the scale of your accomplishments.

Qualitative information includes descriptions and explanations of the impact of your actions. To add quality to your achievements, use descriptive language highlighting the skill or expertise required to achieve the accomplishment.

Wrapping Up

Listing accomplishments on a resume is crucial in showcasing your qualifications and value to a potential employer. To effectively list accomplishments, focus on specific, measurable, relevant achievements, use strong action verbs, and quantify your results with numbers and statistics.

Additionally, tailor your accomplishment statements to the specific job and industry you want. By following these tips, you can help your resume stand out and increase your chances of landing an interview and, ultimately, a job.

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